Saina cruises into quarterfinals at All England Championship

Third seed Saina Nehwal eased into the women’s singles quarterfinals at the All England Championships with a convincing 21-15, 21-15 win over South Korean qualifier Kim Hyo Min, here on Thursday.

Saina next faces her nemesis Wang Yihan, who enjoys an 8-1 head-to-head over the Hyderabad girl.

Jwala-Ashwini pair bows out

The women’s doubles pair of G. Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa crashed out with a 21-10, 21-13 defeat against the top-seeded Chinese duo of Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei in the second round.

H.S. Prannoy eked out a 16-21, 21-8, 21-18 win over France’s Brice Leverdez in the men’s singles first round. He faces England’s Rajiv Ouseph next.

But, there was heartbreak for world No. 5 K. Srikanth and Ajay Jayaram as they failed to cross the first hurdle and crashed out.

While fourth seed Srikanth lost to Kento Momota of Japan 21-18, 12-21, 21-15, Jayaram fell by the wayside against China’s Tian Houwei 21-14, 19-21, 21-14.

The results (featuring Indians): Men’s singles: First round: Kento Momota (Jpn) bt K. Srikanth (Ind) 21-18, 12-21, 21-15; H.S. Prannoy (Ind) bt Brice Leverdez (Fra) 16-21, 21-8, 21-18; Tian Houwei (Chn) bt Ajay Jayaram (Ind) 21-14, 19-21, 21-14.

Women’s singles: Second round: Saina Nehwal (Ind) bt Kim Hyo Min (Kor) 21-15, 21-15.

Doubles:Second round: Tian Qing (Chn) & Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt G. Jwala (Ind) & Ashwini Ponnappa (Ind) 21-10, 21-13.